Adjustable propeller



Nov. 17, 1931. R. J. WILSON 1,832,075

ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER Filed June 19, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR wag Jf w; 1602? ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1931. R. J. WILSON 1,832,075

ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER Filed June 19, 1929 5 Shets-Sheet 2 FEE-E I INVENTOR Robergj J Walson ATTORN EY Nov. 17, 1931. R. J. WILSON I 1,832,075

ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER Filed June 19'. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet a 7 Rober fi im lsoh ATTORNEY atented Nov. 17, 1931 ROBERT 3'. WILSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ADJUSTABLE PROPELLER Application filed June 19, 1929. Serial No. 372,051.

My inventionrelates to marine propellers and more particularly to that type of propeller which because of its peculiar construction, permits a variation in the working angle '5 or pitch. My propeller is particularly intended for use in boats that have a varying operating load or in boats where Very slow speed may at times be required. For example, a tow boat desires to get to its place of 10 work as quickly as possible. In this case with my propeller, the pitch or working angle of the blade is increased toxa point that will givethe maximum speed to the boat. However, when the tow is picked up the boat nat- 15 urally cannot expect to travel as fast as when running light and under these conditions the propeller would be adjusted with a decreased pitch, thus suiting the propeller to the load much better.v This increases the mechanical advantage of the propeller and makes for greater efficiency. Further it permits the engine to maintain its rated speed which it must do to give its full rated power. The fishing boat, on the other hand, often finds it necessary to proceed at a very slow speed at times.

This must usually be accomplished by slipping the clutch or by frequent engaging and releasing the clutch. This produces a great amount of wear in this member and also ne- 0 cessitates. an operator on duty constantly. The older and smaller gas engines are capable of quite a range of speeds; however the newer boats requiring increased power must necessarily go to the multi-cylinder engines of large size and cannot be throttled very satisfactorily. This is particularly true of the oil burning engines of the semi-Diesel and Diesel types, which practically require a con- 40 stant speed.

Therefore the principal object of my invention is to provide a propeller which may be adjusted to give a varying speed to the vessel while maintaining substantially con- 45 stant engine'speed. v

A further object is to provide an adjustable propeller which is characterized by its simplicity and strength.

A further object is to provide an adjust-,

able propeller of such construction that the PATENT OFFICE blades may be removed and replaced very easily.

T he above general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same will be obtained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the

ferred form of embodiment of my invention same being a' prethroughout, in which drawings like reference numerals indicate hke parts.

Fi the hub of my propeller, of one blade in place.

gure l is a longitudinal section through showing a. portion Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the hue 2-2 of Figure '1. Figure 3 is an elevatio 11 showing the ad justing block of my propeller.

Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing the principle of operation of my adjusting feature.

Figure 6 is an elevation showing my 'propeller and the associated nism.

operating mecha- Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings 10 and 12 represent the two halves forming the hub housing of my propeller. These two halves may be joined together in any convenient and water-tight method as by the male and female joint 14/ I have shown 3 large cap screws l5 which'serve to hold the two halves together. I believe it will be apparent that through bolts or studs would serve the purpose in a slightly modified design.

shown with an inwardly Member 10 is extending hub 17 which is taper-bored to receive the taper on the tail shaft 18. Tail nut 20 is provided to secure the propeller'to the tail shaft. Encircling the hub 17 and the tail nut 20 is a a sleeve which by means of the head mem-.

ber 32 and the jam nut 3 3 is secured to the operating rod 35. "The operating rod passes through the center of the hollow shaft 18.

Formed as part of the sle ing outwardly therefrom eve 30 and extendare the curved operating lugs 37 I have shown for purpose of illustration 2. 3bladed .I believe it apparent that the mechanism propeller although would be operable for any number of blades The blades are found in ordinary use.

provided with a shoulder 52, a reduced neck portion 54, and an overhanging retaining disk 55 which is formed integral with the blade casting. The neck 54 engages rather snugly an opening formed one-half in each of the members 10 and 12. After the blades have been put in place and the members 10 and 12 securely bolted together the blade 50 is held very securely yet is free to turn upon the neck 54.

Each propeller blade has cut in the disk 55 a circular groove 60 which is adapted to receive the curved operating lug 37. In Figure 6 I have illustrated one form of control or operating mechanism that may be used to set the pitch of the propeller while it is revolving. In this mechanism I have shown the tail shaft 18 as drilled to accommodate a reciprocating rod 35. This particular feature is not new in my device as it has been used before. I believe it will be apparent that my propeller could be made to operate with a tube which would encircle the shaft 18. This, however, is also old and for this reason no showing has been made ofit. Referring, however, to Fi ure 6 and Figure 7 a coupling is provided to oin together the tail shaft 18 and the power shaft 63. This coupling is made up of the two companion pieces and 66 which may be any standard coupling of suitable dimensions which are spaced apart by the spacing member 68, thus creating an internal cavity 69. The cavity 69 provides space for the disc 70 which is secured to the operating rod 35 and has suflicient room that it may be moved longitudinally sufliciently to give the full range of pitch changes to the propeller blades. Secured to the disc 70 are the pull rods 72 of which there may be any reasonable number, I have found either two or three to be sufficient, however. These rods pass through holes in the hub of couplmg member 65 and in turn engage the flange 74 which is formed as a part of the sleeve 6. Secured to this sleeve may be any convenient arrangement that will permit its being moved longitudinally of the shaft while the shaft is in motion. I have illustrated in Figure 7 a form of such mechanism that I have found very satisfactory. This mechanism is provided with a stationary split housing each half of which has the outwardly extending bosses 78 which are adapted to receive any suitable manual control means as the hand lever 79. This lever may be provided with a notched quadrant to provide definite settings if desired.

Method of operation of the connecting mechanism and the operating rod 35, shift the operating block 30 which will, as is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, move the propeller blades must revolve due to the camming action of the lugs 37 on the side walls of the groove 60. This action changes the augularity of the blade which is illustrated diagrammatically by the line A-A of Figure 5 to the position indicated by line BB of Figure 4. The old position of line AA inFigure 5 being shown by the dotted line in Figure 4. This angular displacement, while seemingly rather slight, is sufficient to change the propeller pitch from normal to practically zero and I have found it to be ample for all practical purposes.

One feature of my propeller that is of particular value over some existing types of propellers of this general type is the fact that if it is desired to remove any of the blades it is only necessary to remove the bolts 15 and take off the rear half of the propeller housing (12). This immediately gives access to the inside of the propeller. Yet the other half of the hub or member 10 is still securely held on the tail shaft taper by the tail nut 20. The blades are still secured in position but may be removed by hand if caused to revolve suflieiently to follow the curve of the lugs 37 and thus come out very easily. This is of particular value, particularly where it is desired to repair or replace possibly only one blade that may have become damaged through use. I believe it will be apparent that an increased movement of block 30 past neutral will give a reverse action, thus creatin a reversing propeller.

IVIanifestly changes may be made in the proportions and arrangements of the various parts of my device without departing from the spirit of the invention therein disclosed. Other details of the operation of my invention will be so obvious to those skilled in the art that I believe no further description is necessary.

What I claim is- N 1. An adjustable propeller consisting of a plurality of blades each provided with a bearmg shoulder, a reduced neck portion and an overhanging retaining disk a two piece hous ing adapted to engage the reduced neck portion of the blades; a tail shaft having an axial bore; an inwardly extending hub on one housing member adapted to engage the said tail shaft; a tail nut adapted to secure said housing member to the tail shaft; an operating rod operatively positioned within the axial bore of the tail shaft; an operating member consisting of a head, to which the operating rod is attached, and a sleeve carrying outwardly extending curved operating lugs; grooves in said retaining disk, curved similarly to the operating lugs, and eoacting with them to adjust the pitch of the propeller and means adapted to move the operating block longitudinally of its am's.

2. An adjustable propeller consisting of a plurality of blades each provided with a bearing shoulder, a reduced neck portion and an overhanging retaining disk; a two piece housing adapted to engage the reduced neck porti on of the blades a tail shaft having an axial bore; an inwardly extending hub on one housing member adapted to engage the said' tail shaft; a tail nut adapted to secure said housing member to the tail shaft; an operating rod operatively positioned within the axial bore of the tail shaft; an operating member consisting of a head, to which the operating rod is attached, and a sleeve carrying outwardly extending curved operating lugs; grooves in said retaining disk, curved similarly to the operating lugs, and coacting with them to adjust the pitch of the propeller; a flange coupling at the end of the tail shaft most removed from the propeller; a spacing member; a companion flange member secured 3 to a driven power shaft; a disk disposed within said spacing member and secured to the operating rod; pull rods secured to said disk and extending outwardly thru the companion flange and disposed longitudinally of said power shaft; a-sleeve slidably disposed upon the power shaft and adapted to revolve with the same and means adapted to move said sleeve while the shaft is revolving.

In witness whereof, I hereunto SllbSClibt my name this 14th day of June, A. D. 1929. 35

ROBERT J. WILSON. 

